Side-event on "Using Universal Jurisdiction for Accountability"

In the margins of the 34th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the Permanent Mission of Canada and the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein, in cooperation with No Peace Without Justice, are convening a side-event on "Using Universal Jurisdiction for Accountability", to be held on 15 March 2017 (from 13:00 to 14:30, Room XXIII, Palais des Nations).

The meeting, which will opened by H.E. Mr. Peter C. Matt, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein, and moderated by Ms. Catherine Godin, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, will include as panellists Ms. Victoria Gobbi, Permanent Mission of Argentina, Mr. Husam Alkatlaby, Executive Director, Violations Documentation Centre in Syria, Ms. Alison A. Smith, Director of International Criminal Justice Program, No Peace Without Justice, and Mr Henrik Attorps, Swedish Prosecution Authority.

The purpose of the side-event is to promote political visibility within the UNHRC for efforts to investigate and prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria on the part of national magistrates and prosecutors. The discussion will also highlight how civil society, in particular Syrian organisations working on documenting war crimes in Syria, can and should contribute to the newly established "UN International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Those Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011” (IIIM).

For further information, please contact Gianluca Eramo (MENA Democracy program Coordinator) on geramo@npwj.org or Nicola Giovannini (Press & Public Affairs Coordinator) on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3915.